Kelly, a 9-year-old boy, runs away from yet another foster home in search of his missing father. Mary Ross, his social worker, despairs of ever finding a secure placement for him, particularly as Kelly will not be separated from the mischievous Kate, his pet otter. Kelly and Kate wind up in Nick's temporary custody. Kate runs afoul of Nick, and Kelly runs afoul of Relic before Mary finally finds a solution to the problem.
